Uncertainty in unknown times: simple but effective coping methods

Afzaa shares her struggles as a student during Covid. How she managed to share her feelings and what helped her during tough times.

- Afzaa Zamir

I’ve always struggled with the idea of the unknown as it’s something you can’t prepare for; for instance, hard-hitting truths such as grieving the death of a loved one or waiting back for results from a test you did. When Covid hit during my first year of university, it really took a toll on my mental health as it left me and lots of others so anxious and scared for the future. 

University had been a safe place for me to socialise, ask questions and learn; and that dramatically changed when all schools/universities were shut down. Learning behind a screen really caused me to struggle. I felt words were just being thrown at me and there was no effective way of truly learning the way I was meant to. 

To help ease my mind, I found solace in taking long walks and listening to podcasts as they helped clear my mind and keep me grounded. I especially enjoyed listening to podcasts during my commute as they allowed me to ponder and reflect which kept me refreshed. Podcasts became such a big favourite of mine. I was on Spotify and was given multiple recommendations, I gave them a try and I found comfort in the words of others. I loved it so much that I actually started one and plan to upload new episodes very shortly. I found talking about how I felt, whether it was to a friend or out loud, refreshed the overwhelming thoughts in my head.

I also found therapy in colouring. It really healed my inner child and helped to boost my imagination, my concentration and gave me boosts of serotonin. My sister also found colouring with her daughters helped her connect not only with them but also helped her clear her mind after a long, hard day. Thus, I took to colouring whenever I felt stressed, overworked, or even bored. I would set an alarm for an hour every day and I’d listen to music and colour a new page. It was therapeutic and cathartic to my soul and brain.

These methods may seem simple, but they supported my vulnerability of being afraid of the unknown. Doing what I was so comfortable with and so knowledgeable of eased my brain and helped me adapt to a situation that seemed there was no getting out of. It helped me realise how I could handle my struggles and that if I could work through them then I could help others, too. I wanted to share tips and guidance for those who feel they are struggling to let them know, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

 

Student Space is here to help you through coronavirus. Explore online resources, access direct support via text, phone, web chat or email and find the support available at your place of study. 

My name is Afzaa, I’m a university student who unfortunately spent most of her degree stuck behind a computer screen due to the pandemic. I’m sharing my story as many students like myself found ourselves at rock bottom, struggling with deadlines, mental health and anxiety about the worldwide pandemic. 

Finding my way back: returning to university (part two)

This is part two of Natasha's experience with coping with mental health at university. To read part one, where Natasha discusses dropping out of university and dealing with grief, click here.

- Natasha

Unlike before, I no longer had education to throw myself into, so I found a job that was a 30-minute drive away, with hours from 10am-10pm five days a week. And it helped to a degree – it forced me out of myself, and I learned to communicate with people again. It was not until the pandemic hit in March 2020 and I was furloughed, that I realised I had nothing other to do than talk about my feelings. I found someone professional and over a year later I still speak to her regularly. 

Lockdown brought its own challenges. I was separated from my family and my boyfriend, but it also gave me time that I had never had before. I read for pleasure for the first time in years and I did an online course on Mental Health as I wanted to understand what was happening to my brain. Plus, I missed learning. My goal was to return to university and finish my degree. I worked so hard to get there and felt I needed to prove it to myself. My mum always described me as having a core of steel; I never believed her, but I knew returning to university might prove that I was worthy of the compliment.

September 2020 came around, almost a year since I dropped out and I was returning for my second attempt at Second Year. But it was not how I planned; I signed a contract to rent a studio back in February because I knew living with strangers would be too much for me. However, COVID completely reshaped what the university experience was going to be. One week before leaving home I was told my degree was online. I felt like all my hard work was wasted. COVID was stopping me from meeting ‘my people’. 

I remember reading for my first seminar and all I could think was ‘how on earth did I manage this?’. No wonder I crashed so hard. It was soon time for me to submit my first essay and I was frantic. I had always measured my worth on my academic achievements, but this was something I did not worked on in therapy. My results came in and I got a high 2:1, only a few marks off a 1st and I was disappointed. My perfectionism was still a very big part of me. However, this time, I took a step back and thought “actually, I just did that after a year out, that is pretty cool!”. I started to believe I had it in me. I knew that my mind would cause me to doubt myself, but I realised that I did not always need to listen to it.
 

I decided to apply for placements. My dream was always to do a year abroad, but that could not be guaranteed because of COVID so I decided on a placement. I wrote application after application, and completed so many aptitude tests. I still remember receiving my first email offering an interview – I ran down the stairs and just screamed to my mum! I could not believe a company wanted to meet me. The night before my first interview I could not stop panicking, I felt like a fraud because I did not include my year out of university on my CV or Cover Letter. I was terrified of being rejected once I explained the gap in my CV. In the end, the interview was not successful, as they asked about the gap and I lied. I tried to present as someone else, someone I did not recognise at all. Safe to say I was not offered the job.

A second interview request came through and for the first two minutes I was overjoyed, then the doubt set in, and I was terrified. To my horror it was not only an interview: I had to give a 15-minute presentation to approximately 15 people (not what I was expecting). I made the presentation and the night before I practiced on my mum, but could not get past the introduction. I broke down and refused to do the interview, I was going to back out. I thought the company was going to think “What a waste of our time” and “was there a mistake? Did we send the email to the wrong person?”. 

The next morning I knew I would regret not trying, so I did the presentation and interview. They asked what my biggest personal achievement was and in a split second I decided not to lie. I told them. I told them that my biggest achievement was realising I needed to leave university and get help, and that my second biggest achievement was returning. Two hours later they offered me the job and my response was, “Me? Why? Are you sure?”.

Last month I finished my second year. Finding the motivation to complete the work has been painfully difficult, especially as COVID meant there was no respite, no chance to relax and escape. But I did it. It took me two years, but I finally completed second year and got offered an incredible placement opportunity. Now (some of the time) I believe my mum when she says I have a core of steel. 

Do not get me wrong, I still have periods where I struggle. Days where my depression takes over and I sleep the day away, but now I am better equipped to deal with it. Some days I wake up and think, “no, I need the day to myself, that job and assignment will have to wait”. Instead of the 4 years I thought it would take to complete my degree, it will take me 5. That was a thought I hated when I first left university. But now I just think, “what is the rush?”. This is my life; it does not have to be on the same timescale as the people I went to school with.

To those students struggling, who feel alone and trapped in their mind, I want to say that your mental health does not have to stop you from being who you want to be. Sometimes it can even make you a better version of yourself. It just means that you are unique and that is nothing to be ashamed of. It has taken me 18 months to acknowledge that, and writing this blog to truly help me realise it.

Click here for help with your mental health, whether related to University or not. You can also get advice on applying for jobs on Student Space.

 

Hi, I’m Natasha, an undergraduate studying History at the University of Southampton. I have struggled with knowing where I fit in the world and what brings me joy, but since embracing my mental health struggles I have discovered that I love to read (mainly historical fiction), draw and talk honestly about mental health.

Adjusting expectations: How I have learned to manage work, mental health, and remote learning during COVID-19

Ginger shares her experience about managing work, mental health and her studies. 

- Ginger Abbot

Attending university always requires an openness to change. During my undergraduate years, it took some time to get used to living in a dorm room and making new friends. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, I was well into graduate classes and had a familiar routine. I did not know how to adjust to changes that left my life turned upside down and isolated at home.

While I navigated the new world of virtual courses, I was also working full-time and stressing about potentially losing my job or getting sick. Many others continue to feel the same way. Here are some tips I learned while managing work, mental health, and online classes.

1. Prioritise your free time

Prioritising your free time is crucial if you are studying while working full-time. You may become tempted to push through virtual assignments when you are not working. I fell into this habit because there were no social activities to break up my time.

However, by not taking a break, you are likely to experience symptoms of burnout. Experiment with self-care hobbies like reading or journaling to figure out how to take care of your mental health while learning online and working during the pandemic.

2. Schedule more virtual chats

Virtual classes left me feeling more isolated and overwhelmed than ever before. There was no shoulder to cry on or date nights with friends to vent about the stresses of grad school. At first, I retreated into my isolation, but it only made things harder. I quickly learned that managing online learning and work is easier with more virtual chats.

Ask your family and friends to schedule weekly calls. When I knew I would see my parents or my best friend every Tuesday and Thursday night, it gave my mental health a crucial anchor during turbulent times.

3. Give yourself grace

Taking a step back and readjusting expectations is a great way to learn how to adjust to change. Whether it was my grades or how long I could keep up perfect performance at work, I held myself to pre-pandemic standards. It turns out that it is much easier to excel when you don’t fear for your health and your job security.

Getting more sleep was a big part of resting and restoring my spirit. I set a 20-minute alarm every day to master the power nap and get the rest my body needs to handle intense stress. It is a simple practice anyone can use, but you should also give yourself the grace to explore other self-care avenues and ease your anxiety.

4. Find new motivations

Getting to hang with friends or go on a holiday were my biggest motivators. Without them, I felt lost. I did not feel that crucial sense of purpose until I decided to find new motivations while managing online learning and work.

My new motivations became resting during power naps and finishing each day with the pride that comes from taking care of myself. Even little steps like eating a healthy meal became something that I celebrated. It renewed my self-confidence and strengthened the new motivations that have carried me through this last year.

5. Check-in with yourself

My final piece of advice for students who work full-time is to check in with yourself every day. If your routines add stress or make life more complicated, make the adjustments you need to find a balance.

Change is the only expected part of life now. Anyone who wants to learn how to care for your mental health while learning online should expect care routines to change too. When I ask myself if something is still working, I am open to changing even the most minor details if they do not support my well-being.

6. Learn to manage work, school, and life during covid-19

Adjusting your expectations while managing work, mental health challenges, and remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a hard battle. Even on my best days, I do not expect anything to remain permanent.

I began to feel more confident and comfortable with my new routines after giving myself more grace and tried new things to find balance in an ever-changing world. After returning to face-to-face learning, I will continue to benefit from these adjustments that helped me through the difficult time. I hope you can find some of these helpful too!

Visit Student Space for further support with your mental health or emotional wellbeing. 

Ginger Abbot is a student life and education writer who is currently enrolled in graduate school part-time. She also serves as Editor-in-Chief for the online learning magazine Classrooms.

Adjusting expectations: How I’ve learned to manage work, mental health, and remote learning during the pandemic

Ginger shares 5 tips that have helped her manage work, study and mental health in the changing times of the pandemic.

- Ginger Abbot

Attending university always requires an openness to change. During my undergraduate years, it took some time to get used to living in a dorm room and making new friends. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, I was well into graduate classes and had a familiar routine. I didn’t know how to adjust to changes that left my life turned upside down and isolated at home.

While I navigated the new world of virtual courses, I was also working full-time and stressing about potentially losing my job or getting sick. Many others continue to feel the same way. Here are some tips I learned while managing work, mental health, and online classes.

1. Prioritise your free time

Prioritising your free time is crucial if you are studying while working full-time. You may become tempted to push through virtual assignments when you’re not at your job. I fell into this habit because there were no social activities to break up my time.

You’ll only experience symptoms of burnout by never taking a break. Experiment with self-care hobbies like reading or journaling to figure out how to take care of your mental health while learning online and working during the pandemic.

2. Schedule more virtual chats

Virtual classes left me feeling more isolated and overwhelmed than ever before. There was no shoulder to cry on or date nights with friends to vent about the stresses of grad school. At first, I retreated into my isolation, but it only made things harder. I quickly learned that managing online learning and work is easier with more virtual chats.

Ask your family and friends to schedule weekly calls. When I knew I’d see my parents or my best friend every Tuesday and Thursday night, it gave my mental health a crucial anchor during turbulent times.

3. Give yourself grace

Taking a step back and readjusting expectations is a great way to learn how to adjust to change. Whether it was my grades or how long I could keep up perfect performance at work, I held myself to pre-pandemic standards. It turns out that it’s much easier to excel when you don’t fear for your health and your job security.

Getting more sleep was a big part of resting and restoring my spirit. I set a 20-minute alarm every day to master the power nap and get the rest my body needs to handle intense stress. It’s a simple practice anyone can use, but you should also give yourself the grace to explore other self-care avenues and ease your anxiety.

4. Find new motivations

Getting to hang with friends or go on a holiday were my biggest motivators. Without them, I felt lost. I didn’t feel that crucial sense of purpose until I decided to find new motivations while managing online learning and work.

My new motivations became resting during power naps and finishing each day with the pride that comes from taking care of myself. Even little steps like eating a healthy meal became something I celebrated. It renewed my self-confidence and strengthened the new motivations that have carried me through this last year.

5. Check-in with yourself

My final piece of advice for students who work full-time is to check in with yourself every day. If your routines add stress or make life more complicated, make the adjustments you need to find a balance.

Change is the only expected part of life now. Anyone who wants to learn how to care for your mental health while learning online should expect care routines to change too. When I ask myself if something is still working, I’m open to changing even the most minor details if they don’t support my well-being.

Learn to manage work, school, and life during covid-19

Adjusting your expectations while managing work, mental health challenges, and remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a hard battle. Even on my best days, I don’t expect anything to remain permanent.

I began to feel more confident and comfortable with my new routines after giving myself more grace and tried new things to find balance in an ever-changing world. After returning to face-to-face learning, I will continue to benefit from these adjustments that helped me through the difficult time. I hope you can find some of these helpful too!

You can visit Student Space to explore online resources, access direct support via text, phone, web chat or email and find the support available at your place of study.  

Ginger is a freelance writer, full-time editor, and graduate student working towards her M.A. in Literature. She loves writing about travel, mental health, and personal development as well as education, and in her free time, she loves to read fiction and historical non-fiction. Read more of her articles for students on her author page.  

Coping when your stress sabotages your grades

Miranda shares her experience with stress and how she coped when it started affecting her grades during her honours’ years.

- Miranda Hartley

Before the pandemic started, I was an incredibly arrogant person. My grades had been on an upwards trajectory- even though the marks didn’t count towards my final degree grade. I even found the time to volunteer and work a part-time job and hang out with my friends. In my mind, I was a force to be reckoned with. 

When the pandemic started, it was a universally sobering experience. With the cancellation of university and the all-consuming fear of the unknown, students were at a loss. I took a care job and moved home, where I lived alone for two months, working full-time. 

Working alongside people who were at the end of their lives was an incredibly troubling experience: my boyfriend and my mother moved back into my family house, which provided a degree of emotional support. However, I found it difficult to reconcile my boyfriend and my mother’s presence – they had different lifestyles and weren’t always comfortable sharing a space. That, alongside a minimum of three twelve-hour shifts a week was tiring me out physically and emotionally in ways that I didn’t recognise. 

When I moved back to university, I wasn’t the same person as I had been in March. I was bitter; sad; I didn’t have the emotional capacity to deal with deadlines and word counts and seminars. Then, when I travelled home for the weekend, I experienced the first profound rejection from my mother, who was disappointed in me taking public transport and seeing friends. 

I had two realisations: firstly, that stress was affecting me to the extent where I could no longer trust my own judgement, and secondly, that I needed some form of external support. 

Counselling gradually began to help. My counsellor was empathetic and gentle and helped me learn to be kind to myself. In the meantime, I had to experience something I didn’t have the maturity to deal with: the downfall of my grades. 

Being a former ‘gifted child’ is something that can be exceptionally damaging. It installs expectations in your mind: the expectation that you will excel in every environment and situation. Of course, as the years go by, you learn to streamline your expectations and accept rejection, but I had never expected my mental health to interfere with my intelligence. 

It felt like I was trying to start an engine, but I kept stalling. I kept reaching into my mind for ideas and facts, but there was just a void; a void that would cause a spike in my heartbeat, sweat to bubble to the surface of my skin and a migraine to emerge. And a cycle was born. I couldn’t think, so I became stressed: then stress prevented me from thinking. 

Meanwhile, I was submitting careless, poorly formatted essays, which kept coming back with disappointing feedback. During this period, I was experiencing an itching, clawing feeling that I hadn’t felt since my GCSEs. My sleep patterns wobbled, partly owed to drinking more alcohol than usual. Normally when I feel mildly stressed, I binge-eat: however, my brain seemed to be telling me that time to eat was a luxury that I couldn’t afford. I lost weight. I cried all the time, largely in secret. 

My boyfriend and my flatmates were smashing their grades out the park and I felt like a jealous shell of the person I had been. 

I’d love to say that what eased my stress after the first semester was more counselling, or devising effective coping strategies, but what it actually helped was distance. 

When I went home, I watched films and ate homecooked food and stopped thinking about university. Lockdown had ensured that I couldn’t work either of the jobs in my hometown or my university city. 

This time, when I returned to university, I was someone who wasn’t a key worker or an A* student; I was just me. A person who existed and had carried on existing during these troubling times. There was neither joy nor sadness to create expectations or drag me down emotionally; just a pleasant acceptance of my personhood. 

I do all I can now to avoid a resurgence of stress. I start projects early so that if I don’t want to work sometimes, I don’t have to. Whenever I feel the symptoms of stress, I breathe. I walk. I eat. 

Around me, several friends are experiencing poor mental health; I do my best to support them, but it is undeniable that if you are a student, especially during these times, you experience a gargantuan amount of pressure. 

For what it’s worth, my grades have begun to improve. But that doesn’t really matter; what matters is that I am a person – flawed, but still valuable – and I’m here. 

To find more information and support for your mental health, visit Student Space. 

I am a Literature student at the University of Edinburgh and I'd like to reach out to students going through similar experiences during this difficult period. 

Solitude, my old friend

Ritisha shares her poem about battling isolation during the coronavirus pandemic.

- Ritisha

The coronavirus pandemic has been dire to wellbeing. We have been forced to shut ourselves away and stopped from socializing and meeting our friends and family. Despite these hurdles, instead of drowning in despair, we can rise up to the challenge by becoming friends with ourselves and loving ourselves.

Hello solitude, my old friend

I have come to talk with you again

Because the corona is softly creeping,

has left its seeds whilst the world was sleeping

And when the world woke up insane

We were left alone with our pain.

 

Hello solitude do you know

That like a cancer, corona grows,

Although we see all the suffering

And the sound of silence is now deafening,

You, always by my side

Gives me hope that everything will be alright.  

 

As you say, “hear my words that I might teach you

Take my arms that I might reach you.”

And as people we bow and pray

To our God that night and day

You hold my hand to show me a way;  

That the future might be bright someday.

Visit Student Space for further support with your mental health or emotional wellbeing. 

I am Ritisha, I study in India in Amity International school. I love writing because I feel I can express myself better through writing. I feel all my anxiety and worries wash away from me when I write.

Feeling like you're not being productive enough

Emma shares her poem on success and productivity to remind us to be kinder to ourselves when reflecting on what we’ve achieved in a day

- Emma Carlisle  

I wrote this poem during the first lockdown when the sudden change, loss of routine and social interactions left me struggling for motivation. I felt a lot of pressure to be making the most of the extra time I had gained from not having to go anywhere and was beating myself up every night before bed for not having been (in my eyes) productive enough that day. I feel that the concept of “productivity” can easily become quite toxic and impact your mental health. Therefore, it’s important to remind ourselves that all the little things we do each day like looking after ourselves, putting out the bins etc are all worthy of a pat on the back, as with every little step we take we are progressing. So if you ever have an “off” day and start getting annoyed at yourself for not having done enough, I hope you can bring to mind this poem and use it to help you change the way you’re judging your day and consequently be kinder to yourself. You’re doing a lot better than you think.

Find out more about what you can do to improve your wellbeing on Student Space.

 

I’m Emma and I’m in the third year of a chemistry undergraduate degree. Having struggled with poor mental health on and off during my time as a student due to putting too much pressure on myself to do well academically, I hope to be able to give some advice to those facing similar struggles.  

Excited about Lockdown easing? I’m not so sure.

Kate shares her feelings on life continuing after the third national lockdown. 

- Kate Bradford

Is it weird that I feel anxious about the end of Lockdown? It sounds strange but it’s true. 

I wonder what life will be like when we return back to ‘normal’ - or at least, a ‘new version of normal’? Will we be able to pick up from where we left off? Or, do we have to start afresh...new life, new you? I find the unknown so exciting, but in relation to life after Lockdown, my questions are endless....yet nobody can answer my concerns yet. 

My life after graduation in July 2019 was full of excitement and all things new. I was hugely fortunate to squeeze in two trips travelling around Vietnam and Australia, but when I returned from the latter in February 2020, my professional plans were put on hold. National lockdowns and increased social distancing threw a spanner into the works on the job front. Life has become a whole new routine – or lack of! 

I’m trying to stay productive during this interim by working part-time as a sales assistant and childminder. But on a professional level, I’m still where I left off a year and a half ago. I don’t think I’ve had enough stimulation. It’s like I am treading water trying to keep the opportunities that were available to me previously, ready for the resumption of normality. Yet, there’s no guarantee they’ll be open to me when life resumes. If you feel like we pressed ‘pause’ in early 2020? You’re not alone. 

On an emotional level, I’ve loved this time to rediscover old hobbies like running and pilates. Setting aside some time each day, usually in the mornings on days off, to exercise has really helped me feel productive. You can feel such a sense of achievement running in the fresh air. The exercise got me out of the house in rain or shine and feeling ready for the day ahead! It helped me to combat those January blues after the sunshine from our first Lockdown vanished and was replaced with dark cold weather. I find the global nature of the pandemic oddly comforting. Everyone’s in it together. Am I too content about where I am at for the time being, or does the thought of life after Lockdown venture me into scary unchartered territory? 

In a situation like this, the pandemic gives us no control – literally. We can’t plan ahead. Only time will tell – one Zoom quiz and banana bread baking challenge at a time!

Find out more about what you can do to improve your wellbeing on Student Space.

Hi, I’m Kate. In 2019, I graduated from Newcastle University where I read History. I volunteered on Newcastle Student Radio and co-presented The Ninety Minute Show on Thursday evenings. Embracing change and exploring new opportunities on campus helped me deal with newly felt concerns and combat isolation. I hope to support and encourage students to speak out about taboo topics.

Surviving post-graduation blues

Eleanor shares her experience on finishing university and how COVID-19 has impacted on her struggles. She also gives her advice on how to overcome post-university blues.

- Eleanor Walker

Finishing university can be completely overwhelming, let alone during a global pandemic. My second semester of third year was probably the most stressful time of my life. I had constant deadlines to meet, an 8,000-word dissertation to write whilst trying to cope with the pressure of achieving my best mark. How would I be defined if I didn’t get the grade I wanted? These thoughts never left my mind.

In March 2020, COVID-19 began to impact many peoples' lives and it suddenly hit me that I had to return home for lockdown and leave university three months earlier than I had planned. I didn’t get the chance to say bye to all my friends or thank my lecturers for all their help with my work over the past three years. It was extremely hard finishing my dissertation and all my other assignments at home; there were so many distractions and I missed being at the library where I felt like I could be the most productive.

The day finally came when I submitted my last assignment. Although I was completely over the moon that I had finished all my work, it still felt bittersweet. I wasn’t 100% happy because I had no idea what my next steps were, I didn’t know what career I wanted to go into, and I genuinely didn’t know what my purpose was after the best years of my life were over so quickly. Whilst feeling like this, all I wanted to do was go back to Sheffield and celebrate finishing university by going on a night out with all my friends. Obviously this couldn’t happen, and it was the worst feeling ever because I felt like my achievements and success didn’t mean anything.

I really struggled with moving back home. The independence I gained when living on my own at university and becoming an adult felt like it had completely disappeared, and it was almost as if my life had gone backwards. I was constantly comparing myself to other people on social media who had secured a graduate job, and I felt like a failure because I still didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I had to deal with constant overpowering questions such as ‘so, what do you want to do now?’ or ‘when are you going to get a proper job?’. My mental health really took a turn for the worst because I couldn’t stop thinking about the future and all the uncertainty that came with it.

It took me several months to finally realise, why am I actually stressing out so much? Just because the job I have now isn’t what I want to be doing forever and I haven’t exactly figured out what my next steps are, this IS okay. I’m only 22 years old and I definitely don’t need to have my whole life planned out. Not to forget the fact that we’re currently living in unprecedented times and finding a job is more difficult than ever, which is why putting unnecessary amounts of pressure on myself isn’t healthy.

I wanted to write this blog to make sure that other graduates who may also be feeling like this know that they’re not alone. There is so much support at university when you’re a student, but as soon as you leave you can feel completely alone and you don’t feel part of a community anymore. Even though COVID-19 has made this difficult, it’s important to stay in touch with your friends from university who may be struggling with this transition too and reach out for support if you need it.

I’ve tried to overcome my post-university blues by keeping busy, taking regular breaks from social media so I’m not constantly looking at what other people are doing, and making sure that I’m patient. If like me, you’re not set on what you want to do, try to see this as something positive! You have time to travel, volunteer, or even work abroad for some time if you want to experience a different culture and gain some experience. Remember that you’re still young and it’s better to give yourself time to think about what you want to do, rather than committing to a job which you might hate and end up regretting rushing into it.

Find out more about what you can do to improve your wellbeing on Student Space.

I'm Eleanor, I graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a degree in English Language in May 2020. I really struggled with leaving university and I want to connect with other students who may feel the same and reassure them that it's okay to not know exactly what career you want to go into after university.

Staying Positive During Lockdown

Carolina shares tips and tricks on how to stay positive during lockdown measures.

-Carolina Clarke 

2021 is a fresh start. After the events of 2020 and a virus that has caused 2 million deaths so far, 2021 is a chance at a hopeful future, for life to return to normal. The release of a vaccine provides us with hope, but there is still much work to be done. People worldwide need to be vaccinated and others continue to fall victim to this virus. So how does one stay positive during this uncertainty? Keep reading to learn tips and tricks to stay positive during these difficult times.

1. Journaling

According to an article on the website Positive Psychology, journaling has a variety of positive benefits including boosting your mood, enhancing your sense of well-being, reducing symptoms of depression, improving your memory, and reducing intrusive thoughts. With many of us being under lockdown orders, it can be isolating and may contribute to feelings of depression. Journaling can help us deal with these emotions.

2. Listening to music

Think about the last time you listened to music and how it transported you to a moment in your life where you were so blissfully happy. Music can affect our mood and allows us to escape the realities of everyday life. During times of struggle, it reminds us of better moments. Maybe it was a dance party you had with your best friend when you were ten years old, or maybe it was the song that way playing when you had your first kiss. Our experiences define who we are and by listening to music attributed to positive moments it can alleviate the feeling of isolation.

3. Connecting with others virtually

In lieu of being able to see people in person, virtual platforms like Zoom and Skype are great ways to connect with friends. Treat it as you would if you were going to go out and see them. Dress up and designate a specific date and time. Looking our best can help us lift our spirits. Think about the last time you put on a nice outfit, you stood more confidently and felt better about yourself. While we understand that getting dressed up all the time during quarantine is not realistic, we challenge you to do it every now and then. Having a hard time dealing with your emotions or health conditions? Find online support networks that can connect you with others going through the same thing.

4. Disconnecting from social media/news

While we acknowledge the importance of staying up to date on what is happening, it can be a lot. This can sound contradictory to the previous statement about staying connected virtually, but there is a difference between communicating with friends versus endless scrolling through social media. Every day we are bombarded with so much online content and feelings of needing to measure up to others. Try limiting yourself to checking social media only once a day. It can be easy to compare yourself to how others are coping during the pandemic but remember that you are doing your best and you don’t need to prove it to anybody else.

5. Engaging in a favourite hobby

If you are feeling up to it, engage in a hobby that you like or pick up one you may have abandoned in the past. Whether that is something like painting, carpentry, writing, etc. When we perform a hobby that we enjoy, we feel happier and more relaxed. It provides us a way to refocus our energy on something else and engage in something meaningful. Feeling brave? Show members of your household what you did. Everybody deserves to have their skills and abilities acknowledged.

In short, it may seem difficult to stay positive during lockdown. However, by engaging in one or more of the following activities, our hope is that you can find an outlet to manage your emotions and feelings. Our routines and life as we know it have been flipped upside down, so be gentle with yourself, you are stronger than you know! 

Whether you are looking for support for your own mental health at university or supporting a friend, help is available. 

Carolina Clarke is a recent graduate and copywriter at DMP (Diabetes Management Platform). As lockdown measures continue to drag on and affect mental health, Carolina hopes to share ways to help deal with the isolation felt and maintain a positive attitude during these difficult times.

Three's a crowd - COVID life, university and your mental health

Taylor Shares his experience in managing his mental health as a university student during the Coronavirus.

- Taylor

For some students, starting university last September was supposed to be a new start and a great experience; it does not seem to feel that way. Nor does it for the students who moved into their next year with a completely new experience and challenges to face.

The first lockdown was difficult, but we all got through it. Plus, the positive was that it was the summer, and the sun was shining. But now we are in winter, and the weather is against us. Going out for a walk to relieve some stress is not quite so easy when it’s cold and rainy. Being stuck inside is worse, though, if you live alone. We are lucky to have technology that allows us to communicate with almost anyone. However, talking to someone over the phone, even on a video call, is not anywhere near the same as spending time with them face-to-face in real life.

But then there are university lectures and seminars. For many students, these sessions are the only time in the week, when they get to hear the voice of other humans, but it does not feel the same when it is online. Being online makes it even harder to strike up a conversation, especially when cameras are forcibly turned off. It can get boring: sitting in a room on your own, listening to the same voice through the screen, as they change the slide on their presentation.

You probably are not going to be able to boost your mental health with face-to-face contact, or at least as much as you used to, but there are other ways in which you can look after your mental health:

Write a list of gratitude:

Although this is a difficult time, we all have things that we can be grateful for. Writing these down can help us shift our perspective to a more positive outlook: focusing on what we have, instead of what we are lacking.

Help someone out: 

There are so many charities that need volunteers. If you know someone who is unable to get out during this lockdown, you could offer to get their shopping for them. Helping out does good for the community, but it also boosts your mental health with a purpose and a positive outlook.

Find a routine: 

This lockdown might have completely thrown your days upside down, but it is still important to get up and get dressed. You do not have to fill your day with activities, but maybe going for a walk, just to break up your day could help.

Do things that make you happy: 

Watch a movie, get a takeaway, go for a jog… (the list is endless).

Video calls: 

We may not be able to see people face-to-face, but for the time being, calling is the closest we are going to get to it. But if you can, use a video calling app so that you can actually see one another and have a more relatable conversation.

The second most important thing after your own mental health is checking in on your loved ones, it does not need to be an extensive conversation. Just drop them a text, perhaps: ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ or ‘I’m here for you if you need to talk about everything that’s going on right now’. Leaving the door open for a conversation allows them to approach you if they need support. But do not worry, you do not need to be an expert on mental health, you just need to listen.

Your mental health may be challenged during the Coronavirus, but it’s important to remember: you made it through two lockdowns in a very strange, and unpredictable time. 2020 taught us a lot about resilience, and the pressure of being thrown into a circumstance blindfolded. Although, at least we can take those lessons into 2021 and look after ourselves.

We understand that studying during coronavirus brings new challenges and uncertainty. Explore tips and tools on Student Space​ to help you manage through the academic year. 

Hey, I’m Taylor, a student teacher from Kent. Mental health is a topic that isn’t in our daily conversations, but why not? I’m an advocate for mental health sharing an equal platform with physical health. And in the 21st century, social media is the place it can begin with, which is why I wrote this article. 

New year, same me?

Jessica shares her experience of the pressures of New Year's resolutions but also how to realistically maintain them.

- Jessica Flora

New Year's resolutions are often highly talked about during this time of year. Although they can be great in helping people re-focus their life and build towards a goal, a downfall is that individuals often feel immense pressure to maintain goals and compare themselves with others. By all means, it's a good thing for someone to reach for a goal - but if that goal seems unattainable or unrealistic to an individual, it's easy to become disheartened and fall vulnerable to feelings of stress. Here are some tips for setting realistic and flexible New Year's resolutions that have helped me focus throughout the year:

1. Don't feel that you have to wait for next year to reset your goals

 

A few months into the year you may feel that the January goals you set are not going quite how you wanted them to, and that you may need to re-adjust your goals (due to something like a pandemic!). Don't give up and wait until next year - just re-adjust them! Each day gives you the chance to do something new, so why not change your goal in the here and now? Fine-tuning your goals and goal plans according to your situation makes you more likely to achieve them. So, by next year you can happily tick it off your list, or even keep it going if it's a long-term goal. Remember: some progress is better than none!

2. Setting monetary goals

You may want to set a high target when it comes to money, but try setting smaller targets throughout the year. For example, you could aim to save £30 by the end of January, then £60 overall by the end of February, and so on. Try not to spend money on things you can easily save on; for example, limit the number of takeaways you eat every week, and set the money you would have spent aside, in your savings account. Over time these things will mount up, and can be used for future purposes like putting a deposit down on a house, buying a car, etc. Just remember, don't become disheartened if you cannot afford to put extra money aside for that month - always do what you feel is best.

3. Setting health goals

Exercising is a common goal for most people; however, it can be a challenging thing to maintain and if individuals don't see improvements, they may lose interest. An important tip for keeping an exercise goal is tracking your progress and researching the "Do's and Do not's" of fitness. Remember that some things may not work for you, and that's okay! Keep researching new forms of exercise to try until you find something that works for you. It is important to remember that things take time, so don't expect to see results immediately, and always work out safely.

4. Grades

Wanting to better your grades is not a bad thing at all. However, you may endlessly tire yourself out with overworking and overstressing, losing yourself in the process. Instead of trying to deal with this on your own, email the teachers/lecturers that mark your work and ask them specifically how you can improve. Look into intervention classes for your specific subject/area, as they may be able to provide you with help and guidance. Remember: it may take time for your grades to improve, but don't stop trying!

5. New skills/hobbies

Wanting to learn a new skill or take up a new hobby can be intimidating and challenging, especially during the current pandemic. My advice is to try as many different skills and hobbies before committing to anything, to see what you do and don't like. You may surprise yourself with what you find. If you find yourself feeling disheartened at something difficult, remember that practice makes perfect, so keep on trying no matter what. 

 

My overall message is this: anything is possible if you have the motivation to work for it, and baby steps are key when trying to reach a big goal.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, check out our previous blog, "Taking things one day at a time" by Adam. You can also learn more about improving your mental wellbeing on Student Space.

Hi, I'm Jessica and I study an undergraduate Psychology degree. I feel there is an immense societal pressure and expectation on students to be high achievers. Mental health should not be stigmatised, but should be seen as an important and serious issue that needs addressing.